Featured Stories

A beautiful new arts center opened in the heart of White River Junction's downtown in 2015. The Barrette Center for the Arts houses an intimate 240 seat modified thrust performance space and has all the technical capabilities you would hope for. The backstage supports large and small cast productions with rehearsal space matched to the size of the stage used in performance. The lobby is fronted by an outdoor plaza and is enclosed by an inviting windowed street front. The building and spaces within the building have been designed to meet accessibility needs — including an assisted listening system in the theater itself. Managing Director Eric Bunge reported, "People tell us the Barrette Center for the Arts is their favorite place to see live theater. We couldn't ask for a better testimonial." Then, he told us more. Read More

Ten Finalists
Congratulations to Aliyah Burr from Burlington High School, Alyese Caruso-Randall from Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, Sadie Chamberlain from Lyndon Institute, Vera Escaja-Heiss from South Burlington High School, Linea Kay from Woodstock Union High School, Annie Keith from Peoples Academy, Chloe Lyons from Mt. Abraham Union High School, Caitlyn McDermott from Vermont Academy, Olivia Pitcher from Burr and Burton Academy, and Gracie Smith from Arlington Memorial High School!
These students had the highest scores in their region at the semifinals held March 12 and will advance to the championship round March 15, 2018. Read More

Visual artists are at a disadvantage in our culture these days because their contribution to our social discourse is often free of those things that demand our collective attention. The art may be flashy and eye-catching, but the person behind the art often isn't and that makes it difficult to cultivate fame and participate in a celebrity culture. Social media — Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and so on — requires a constant stream of images and stories. For an artist who may make a few dozen paintings a year, it is hard to keep up. But that is only part of it. Read More

The Vermont Poetry Out Loud 2018 semifinals have been rescheduled for March 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m at the Barre Opera House.
Champions from 33 high schools across the state will come to compete. Ten finalists will be named at the end of the day, and continue to the State Finals held March 15 in partnership with Vermont PBS at the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester. The state champion will move on to the National Championship held April 23-25 at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
The Semifinals can be seen via live stream on the Vermont Poetry Out Loud Facebook page. Read More

Picture a perfect day for shredding the slopes: fresh white powder, bluebird sky, après drinks near a roaring fire. When these images flood our screens, it’s enough to make anyone long for a ski bum lifestyle. And Vermonters know these dreamy days aren’t just for shredding. After the sun has gone down or your legs have grown tired, the arts will be waiting. What better place to start than in Stowe? Stowe Mountain Resort has been a Vermont skiing staple for decades and garnered recent attention when it was purchased by Colorado-based Vail Resorts. This mountain village is noteworthy for its arts scene as well. Read More

This upcoming summer marks the 10th anniversary of the inception of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. When myself and a number of community members decided to transform the Montpelier campus from a subsidiary of Union Institute to our own homegrown graduate arts center, we were aiming big. We were thinking globally. We envisioned a place where creators from all over the world — writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, graphic designers, and more — could gather throughout the year and nurture their art and emerge as a better, more transformative artist. Read More